Dr. Sollins is a Principal Scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where her research has focused on computer networks and network architecture.Although the majority of her professional experience in the grants process continues to be as an applicant for and recipient of grants, as part of her mission to understand grant making from both sides, she spent two years as a senior program director at the National Science Foundation running the Network Research grant program and making grants with a total budget of about $40M.
In addition, she led the Network and Communications component of the Information Technology Research program, overseeing another $20M in grants.
In these programs, grants range in size from $50K to $5M.
She received a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics from Swarthmore College and Master's and PhD in Computer Science from MIT.
Although she has broad philanthropic interests, well matched to those of the Foundation, her special interests are in the environment, and human and civil rights.
She is a daughter of Axel and Katharine Rosin and granddaughter of Harry and Bernardine Scherman.
She served as a board member to the Scherman Foundation for many years before becoming Chair of the Board.